Alum Rock Road Shops

[Alberta]

My husband was born and raised in Alum rock,Couchman road.
His sisters went to Nansen road,Valerie,Sylvia and Margaret Taylor.

 

[Graham S]

Whats your surname? We must have bumped into each other. I remember some of the boys who went to church, The Fawcett brothers and the Fountains.
WendyP

Hi Wendy
If you remember the Fountains you'll almost certainly have known the Fells, and probably the Webleys. I still occasionally see Colin Fountain, who's now married to Sue Fletcher (you may or may not remember her or her family),with whom I went out for a while in the mid-60s.
If you sang in the choir we'll probably have coincided, if nothing else, on Church Parade Sundays! Do you remember the steward Eric Davies, who I think used to have a tailoring business in Alum Rock Road?

My surname is Spencer - I'm an only child, so no siblings you might remember, I'm afraid.....

 

[flounder]

I do remember my grandad leaving me outside the a betting shop in Alum Rock, but which one i dont know, if it was still there in the 70's, then it probably was that one lol

 

[Chris B]

Hi All,
I used to got to George Gray the barbers shop opposite Southhalls (between Farndon Rd & Foxton Rd I think) Mom had a shop opposite Southalls gate (Ludlow Rd end) next to Ashtons lending library and toy shop on the corner of Farndon Rd I think it was called Betty, she sold wool, embroidery items, stockings and ladies bits & bobs,
There was a second hand shop on the corner of Jackson Rd with the grocers next to it and the chippie next to that, and a taxi firms garage next to that against Anthony Rd school wall. We used to get all our decorating stuff from Easy's (in the photo)

Regards Chris B

 

[sylviasayers]

No one has mentioned Jesters opposite the College? pub, it was there for years and had a sort of turret on the top of the building.

 

[Carol T]

Hi, I remember Jester's the Grocers, it was on the corner of Gowan Road. It was opposite the Rock Public House.

 

[sylviasayers]

That's it Carol, got the pub name wrong. Another senior moment!!!

 

[Carol T]

Hi Sylvia yes we all get these Senior Moments !! Did you come from
the Alum Rock area. I was born in Nansen Road and went to Nansen Road Schools.

 

[Icarus]

pmc147's picture captioned 'Parkfield Café' brought back a few memories for me. I managed TFS Easy's decorator supplies shop for about 6 months in 1959, then Mr & Mrs Easy retired and sold up to a couple of business men from Worcester. There was another branch in Castle Bromwich or thereabout. One of the window displays, for Dulux paint, had a hand holding a paintbrush that moved up and down in a painting action. The movement was driven by a small motor via a male/female bayonet switcher adaptor. When the display was replaced, I 'borrowed' the switcher for use with my Christmas tree lights - and I still use it today. Blimey, has it really been 50 years? Had a few laughs there, including the old lady who came in and asked for a pint of white Durex!

There was a shed at the back where we cut glass to size and the stench of rotting maggots from the fishing tackle shop next door drifted over the fence into the shed. It was unbearable.

To the right of the picture was the Morris Commercial Club where I spent many a night playing snooker.

Someone mentioned a 'horrible dentist' and I think they could be referring to Frank Rowbottom, but there were a few other dentists there including McCallum and Warwick. They were at the bottom end of Bowyer Road next to the Rock pub.

The Tropmans photo.... on the opposite side to the café on the corner of Clodeshall Road, there was Armstrong's tool shop with timber yard at the back and an extension builders yard across the road next to said café. They were a true family business; Bob Armstrong's missus ran the shop while he and his three sons did the donkey work in the builders' and timber yard.

Someone mentioned Davies' tailors where I had a great suit made and, next door, was Carter's furniture store where I bought a dining table and four chairs plus a writing bureau cum glass cabinet - 15 guineas for the lot!

Further down, opposite the Rock cinema was Rock Photographics where I bought all my photo processing chemicals. It was run by two brothers and they later renamed the shop Hathaway Studios, specialising in photo frames.

Opposite the Capitol cinema was a model aircraft shop where my son would urge me into every time we were in the area. A few doors down was Hawtin's record shop.

 

[Chris B]

Brilliant Icarus, I remember all that you have mentioned, of course opposite the Morris Commercial was the old Grand Cinema, a stadium type with no balcony as such, Frank Cozens was the Manager, and Mom new the head usherette so I had to behave when I went to the Saturday Matinee
Regards Chris B

 

[Chris B]

Hi All,
next to the Shell garage on the corner of Anthony Road, as I remember it, was a travel shop a news agents a greengrocer (Browns?) Lashfords the butcher, can't remember what was on the corner was it the Co-op or was that further along ?
Regards Chris B

 

[Trebor]

Chris,

I think you will find it was Wisemans Fancy Drapers on the corner of Parkfield Road, if you go into search, someone has posted the relevant Kelly's directories pages for all the shops in Alum Rock Road.

I used the New Google Street website to have a look at Alum Rock Road, what was the Shell garage is now a second hand car site, and what was Saint Mary and Saint John's Church on the corner of Naseby Road seems to have gone.

Regards Trebor

 

[Macca]

Trebor,

Ss Mary & John, is still there on the corner of Naseby Road, I pass it about once a week.

Macca

 

[Chris B]

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction Trebor and Thanks for the Kellys mikejee, what a blast from the past that was, Allens at 410 Alum Rock Rd were the people who Mom sold the shop too opposite Southalls, during the sale of the premises Mom had to go and see her solicitor about something and she gave Dad strict instructions that if Allens arrived before the completion time that under no circumstances were they to have access to the premises, now Dad was not a business man and when they arrived early and it was raining he felt sorry for them and he let them in and they promptly laid claim to our coal house full of coal without paying for it, possession is nine tenths of the law as they say. He never lived that one down when Mom returned. No sentiment in business she said.
Regards Chris B

 

[Trebor]

Thanks Macca,

I had another look on Google Street Maps, I had it in my mind that the church was nearer the corner, I see now that it isn't. It has been about 40 odd years since I was there.

Regards Trebor

 

[sylviasayers]

Carol T, no I didn't live in Alum Rock, born and bred in Aston, but moved to Bromford in 1967 and used the No.26 bus to go to town and it ran through Alum Rock.

 

[geofred]

Would anyone remember seeing in the 1940's and 50's walking along Alum Rock Road- on a daily basis - an elderly gent, wearing a well steamed bowler hat, a fresh flower in his button hole and very well polished shoes? He used to walk to Rock Public House twice daily from his home at 358 Alum Rock Road, rain or shine. He was killed outside the Rock Pub in October 1959 by a hit and run motorist. I would love to hear from anyone who remembers seeing my Grandfather.

 

[geofred]

In 1955/6 ish I worked on Saturdays at Goldbergs, the ladies and childrens clothing shop. It was near to the Gate, I think that it was number 70-72. Does anyone else remember them?

 

[Carol T]

Hi Geofred, I remember Goldberg's, if I'm right I think it was 2 shops linked, sold childrens and ladies clothing one side and curtains the other. It was near to Wimbushes the bakers and Ted Haynes.

 

[Carol T]

Hi Geofred, Just had a look on the Kellys link , Goldbergs was Nos. 88 & 90 Alum Rock Road.

Regards Carol T

 

[Carol T]

Hi Sylviasayers, Thanks for your reply. Cheers .

 

[geofred]

Hi Carol T,
Thank you for the number of Goldbergs, I think that after 50 years I did well to get so close. While I was there they only sold ladies and childrens clothes, I was in the children's side, I don't remember them selling curtains at all. Mrs G. laid most of the Saturday staff off when the takings started to fall in 1957. Those were the days!!!!
Regards 'geofred'

 

[Roy Rocket]

Was it Haynes the Green Grocer that used to be on the corner of Alum Rock Road and Wright Road? There was Copes, the pen and stationary shop, also a wallpaper shop. (Ray was the son of the owner, he has a shop at the Yew Tree now "Ray's Wallpapers". I remember the toy/model shop, used to be almost oposite Ralph Road, where I would go and spend my 2/6p pocket money. I lived in Ash Road from 1955 to 1966 and used to go shopping with my mom every Saturday morning,

It certainly was "Ted Haynes" greengrocers on the corner of Wright Road and Alum Rock Road. I lived in Wright Road and worked at Haynes' in 1953! They had another greengrocery in Washwood Heath Road nr to Sladefield Road.

 

[wendyP]

Hello Roy
My uncles butchers shop was next door to Haynes (called Barkers). I always went shopping with mom to Haynes and then the butchers.
What other shops do you remember on the Rock?
WendyP

 

[Phil]

Another photo of Alum Rock Rd, this one is from the 1960's.

Phil

 

[motorman-mike]

Hi All,
next to the Shell garage on the corner of Anthony Road, as I remember it, was a travel shop a news agents a greengrocer (Browns?) Lashfords the butcher, can't remember what was on the corner was it the Co-op or was that further along ?
Regards Chris B

Chris, the travel shop you remember next to the petrol station was Broads Travel (325, Alum Rock Road).

 

[wendyP]

Thank you so much for this photo - we have all been talking about The shop that stands on a bob and now we can see it. Where on earth did you get that from.
WendyP

 

[dav19390]

Roy,
Ted Haynes also had a large double-fronted shop on Alum Rock Road near to the Capitol Cinema. We had a shop almost opposite and, as a boy, I was always being sent across to Haynes' for some item of fruit or veg.
It used to amuse me that the staff had a way of referring to their fruit and veg by pronouncing them backwards - "A couple of sananab, sir?" or "Have you seen our fresh segnaro?"
I also remember that they had another branch at Kitts Green at the top of Mackadown Lane.

 

[Roy Rocket]

Hello Roy
My uncles butchers shop was next door to Haynes (called Barkers). I always went shopping with mom to Haynes and then the butchers.
What other shops do you remember on the Rock?
WendyP

Starting from the 'Gate', Saltley. Close by were the Saltley Gas Works and I used to take a childs old folding push chair (Called a Tan Sad) to collect great sacks of coke and then push it all the way back to home in Wright Rd. On the journey, I would pass the Infant School next to the Rock Cinema. Then Oldacres builders' merchants opposite the cinema. Then McGauleys cycle/toy shop on the left. The Prudential Insurance branch office near to the tram stop. Then Wimbush's bread/cakes almost next door to Ted Haynes'.
On the opposite corner of Wright Rd was Wrensons grocers and a fish and chip shop on the other side of Alum Rock Road. Moving on, there was Foster Bros for clothing, Wilcox butchers next to a church, Braggs bakers shop, The Birmingham Municipal Bank (which became Lloyds/Tsb) Lucas hardware with Woolworths opposite. Over the junction (6 Ways) to The Grand Cinema (with an 8 ft high balcony) and the Morris Commercial Social Club opposite. I walked that route countless times on my way to the Holy Rosary School.

 

[Carol T]

Hello Roy.

I also went to Saltley Gas Works with my Grandad to collect coke in his wheelbarrow. I remember all the shops you quoted. I lived in Nansen Road, not far from you. Good memories. Regards Carol T